Washington, DC – THANK YOU to everyone who joined us for SEARAC’s 27th annual Leadership and Advocacy Training (LAT) program! We were honored to be joined by a diverse cohort of 23 participants, representing 10 different states, in addition to DC, and ages ranging from 20 to 44. Our cohort included leaders from Cambodian, Hmong, Iu Mien, Montagnard, Lao, Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian and ally communities. Over the three-day program, we celebrated the Southeast Asian American legacy, explored the impact of civic engagement on our communities, and empowered a cohort of advocates to share their stories with elected officials.
Check out some highlights from the week:
Day 1 kicked things off with a powerful group photo share activity to ground and remind us why we chose to join SEARAC for the LAT 2026 program. Moderated by Quyên Đinh, SEARAC Executive Director, participants each brought in a photo of personal significance and shared the story behind it. Participants then split into our issue tracks—education, health, and immigration—and learned more about SEARAC’s policy priorities in each area. Thank you to Dashel Lewis, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at the Diverse Elders Coalition; Natalie Truong, Ph.D. Assistant Director for Education Policy at Advancing Justice-AAJC; and Vimala Phongsavanh, Managing Director of Coalition Mobilization at National CAPACD for serving as facilitators alongside SEARAC staff.
On Day 2, participants learned how to tell their stories effectively in a workshop called “Story of Self, Us, and Now,” facilitated by Phun H, SEARAC Communications Manager. Afterwards, participants had a chance to learn more about advocacy meetings during SEARAC’s Advocacy Panel. The panelists included Adam Carbullido, Director of Policy and Advocacy, AAPCHO; Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; and Kelvin Lum, Director of Federal Advocacy, Stop AAPI Hate, moderated by Nisha Ramachandran, Founder and CEO, Ramachandran Group, LLC. We closed the day with a performance from Mera Dance Troupe, a traditional Cambodian dance group based in Long Beach, CA.
Day 3 was dedicated to our meetings with elected officials. We began our morning with a congressional roundtable with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), who discussed findings from our recent Rising Up report on SEAA student experiences. SEARAC extends our gratitude to US Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of CAPAC; US Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45), Executive Board Member of CAPAC; and Ronny Lau, Associate Director of Government Relations at National Education Association, for joining us for this special event. Afterwards, participants headed to their legislative meetings. Our leaders shared their personal stories as constituents of their elected officials, connecting these stories toward legislation that would improve the lives of immigrant and refugee communities.
Hear directly from some of our participants in these powerful reflections shared following their experience at LAT:
“My favorite part of LAT was being surrounded by like-minded and passionate individuals who created such a safe space to learn, share our stories, and advocate together. One of the most meaningful moments for me was seeing ‘Iu Mien’ specifically named in the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. I had never seen my community represented in federal legislation before, and seeing our name written there made me feel seen and reminded me why having our voices and stories represented in these spaces matters so much.”
LAT participant in SEARAC’s immigration track and the daughter of Iu Mien refugees and aspiring physician from California’s Central Valley
“As a daughter of Vietnamese refugees, I firmly believe that our very existence is an act of resistance. Programs like LAT remind me that honoring our histories, investing in our communities, and building collective power are all ways we continue that legacy. That perspective is something I will carry with me throughout my advocacy work.”
LAT participant in SEARAC’s immigration track and Senior Policy Analyst at the Partnered Evidence-based Policy Resource Center
This year’s LAT would not have been possible without the generous support of our lead sponsor, State Farm, who has funded our LAT program for over two decades. We also extend our appreciation to the following sponsors for their vital contributions to support our rising leaders:
- AARP
- Blue Shield of California Foundation
- District Capital Management
- Kresge Foundation
- OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates
Photos courtesy of Minh Pham, PSK Creative, unless indicated otherwise.